IN THIS ISSUE: OPA SUMMER CONFERENCE: PG 03 | Come meet the candidates BLACKOUT POETRY: PG 09 | A contest for newspapers of every size SATURDAY MAIL DELIVERY: PG 11 | How the loss of service would affect businesses Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association Vol. 81, No. 4 • Sixteen Pages • April 2010 Download The Oklahoma Publisher in PDF format at www.OkPress.com/the-oklahoma-publisher 15 OPEN RECORDS WEEKS until the Primary Election UNDER ATTACK Several bills currently enue of over $65 million in time to take a deep breath Newspapers making their way through the last five years selling and think through all of the Oklahoma Legislature citizens’ names, birth dates the issues this summer and are ready to could directly affect the and addresses in the form come back with a piece of talk to you state’s Open Records Act. of motor vehicle records legislation next year.” to marketers and screening about print DATES OF BIRTH companies. OSSAA and web SB 1753, authored by Also, according to the Senate Bill 1729 would Sen. Debbe Leftwich, Office of State Finance, a subject the Oklahoma advertising. D-OKC, would make pub- spreadsheet of all 40,000 Secondary School Activi- lic employee birth dates public employees’ personal ties Association to open exempt from open records addresses was provided to records. The bill was writ- laws. Rep. Randy Terrill, a mailing firm that works ten after an embezzlement R-Moore, sponsored the with the Oklahoma Public scandal surfaced in 2009 Call your local newspaper or bill in the House. Employees Association, a at the association. It would Oklahoma Press Service at Leftwich wrote the bill private organization, since give the public access to soon after Attorney Gener- records of the non-profit (405) 499-0020 for help June of last year under a The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame’s exhibition hall is al Drew Edmondson issued organization that regulates with your ad placement. special exemption passed open in its new location in the Nigh University Center on an opinion in response to a by the legislature. high school sports and the University of Central Oklahoma campus in Edmond. dispute between The City The issue of whether a other activities such as The hall was dedicated on April 9 at the 40th anniversary of Oklahoma City and The public employee’s date of music, speech and debate celebration and induction. Oklahoman. The opin- birth is a private fact about competitions in Oklahoma. ion declared that public that person is also the sub- The bill passed through employee birthdates were ject of a court case. The the Senate 41-0 and Get ready to Race for Space “presumed open.” OPEA sued the State of through the House Gen- Leftwich cited concerns Oklahoma to bar release eral Government Commit- Oklahoma Press Service’s Race for Space begins in over identity theft and the of any employee dates of tee 10-0. It next faces the less than three weeks. safety of public employ- birth. Oklahoma District entire House. On May 1, OPS will offer heavily discounted adver- ees. Judge Bryan Dixon issued tising space to candidates in nine statewide races. AUTOPSY RESULTS According to the the injunction and it study- The limited space will be offered for a limited time. House Bill 3155, by Open Records Act, home ing the issue. It’s first-come, first-served in the race for advertising Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Tut- addresses, phone numbers “There is still time to space. Once the discount package for a particular race tle, would amend the Open and Social Security num- find some compromise lan- is gone, space will revert to regular rates. Records Act allowing the bers of current or former guage or common ground,” Race for Space heavily discounts these ad packages Office of Chief Medi- state employees are to be said Mark Thomas, execu- in exchange for early commitments from the candi- cal Examiner to withhold kept confidential. This bill tive vice president of the dates. information any time a would add birth dates to Oklahoma Press Asso- Don’t miss out! For more information about the death is labeled as homi- that list. ciation, “but now that Race for Space, contact OPS Advertising Director cide, unknown or pending. However, according to the court has temporarily Sarah Barrow at (405) 499-0021 or Account Executive Information could be held the Department of Public barred the release of the Landon Cobb at (405) 499-0022. Safety, Oklahoma had rev- records it may be a good Continued on Page 2 2 THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER, April 2010 OPA PRESIDENT’S COLUMN OPA receives application for associate membership Deborah Gooding has applied for an the OPA Board of Directors at their meet- associate membership in the Oklahoma ing on Saturday, June 5, at Western Hills Press Association. State Lodge in Wagoner, Okla. CatseyeBYBY GLORIA TROTTER,TROTTER, Gooding, who is currently director of Any current member wishing to object PPublisherublisher ooff The CountCountywideywide & SuSunn marketing and communications for Girl to the application must do so in writing to Scouts of Western Oklahoma, previously the OPA at 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Okla- worked as a newspaper reporter and edi- homa City, OK 73105-5499, by Tuesday, What a great time Wayne and I had hosting the OPA board in Tecumseh and tor in Oklahoma and Texas. May 25, 2010. Shawnee a couple of weeks ago! The application will be reviewed by We had some fun (checking out the mummy at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art) and a great meal hosted by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation at the beautiful FireLake Grand Casino. The whole group even came to the Countywide & Sun office in Tecumseh for a reception. Charges dropped against Okmulgee County Jail Authority Of course we spent most of our time brainstorming and planning. It was pretty Open Meeting violation charges were Larry D. Moore was appointed by State intense; you all know that finances aren’t what they used to be. And it’s not just the dismissed in February against eight mem- Attorney General Drew Edmondson to recession. The nature of our industry has changed. Print journalism will never return to bers of the Okmulgee County Jail Author- prosecute the case. the good old days. The question is, what does the future hold? ity. Moore cited the “best interests of jus- I wish I could tell you we answered that question. The one answer that was obvious The panel, which included the Okmul- tice” in his dismissal, although Robert is that change is inevitable, for your newspaper and mine, and for our association. The gee County Sheriff, the Okmulgee Police Seacat, attorney for the plaintiffs, told the big truth we have to face at OPA is that advertising revenue from OPS can’t carry the Chief and the mayor of Henryetta, was Okmulgee Times that Moore dismissed cost of member services much longer. accused of improper meetings in 2006 and the charges because there was an attorney 2007. Muskogee County District Attorney present at the meetings in question. SO WHAT DO WE DO? The same thing you’re doing – look at our business model. Short term, we’ve been cutting costs. But long term, we have to decide what we can continue to do and how we’ll pay for it. It won’t be easy. Some fundamental changes are in order, including a look at the Open Records Continued from Page 1 dues structure. Sorry, folks – there just aren’t many options. What we need from you until the case goes to trial and the origi- investigation and footage featuring a dead is some constructive input. What works for you that could be adapted for OPA/OPS? nal bill does not specify a time frame for body. Which member services are the most important to you? What do you expect in return release of the records should the case never for your OPA dues? reach trial. TAX TASK FORCE Don’t say “a big ad check.” You might as well plan your budget based on winning Thomas said some new compromise House Bill 3288 would form a task force the lottery. language is being reviewed that would to examine state incentives and tax credits narrow the number of autopsy reports offered to companies and individuals to THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOUR MEMBERSHIP BUYS YOU. This time of year, that would be confidential, and would determine which programs should be kept the one that quickly comes to mind is Mark’s amazing lobbying work. Unless you’re allow access for family members after they and which should be eliminated. However, on the board or the Government Relations Committee, you probably have no idea how were eliminated as suspects in homicides. because of language in the bill stating that many dangerous bills he’s headed off. And don’t forget that legal rate increase a few Additionally, new language would tell the the task force “shall be exempt” from open years ago. That alone was worth several years’ dues. Medical Examiner’s office what informa- meetings and open records laws, Rep. Here are a few more: business members are eligible for the Legal Services Plan, tion could be released when a person died Mike Reynolds says the task force would which can save you thousands. Those who participate in OCAN and the 2x2 program in police custody. be a waste of time. – which is most of us – have the services of Bill Newell, our postal consultant, and A representative of the Oklahoma State The author of the bill, Rep. Skye Wilma Melot, our traveling computer consultant.